FLAMES: Of Revenge And Love

17. PICTURE

Aradhya's POV

" You've grown wings haven't you?" I heard her before I saw her, Vartika sinha, the woman who gave me birth. If it wasn't for her always claiming how much she suffered because of me, I would've doubted that she really is my mother. But it doesn't matter now, I already have them 26 years as a thank you. Their time is up now.

I ignored the words she said and tried to bypass her, tried. Cuz she came before me, stopping me.
" What do you want? "
" What the hell were you doing introducing your in-laws to that servant. Even we didn't go to meet them. " The disdain in her voice was too obvious and the haughtiness couldn't be hidden no matter what. She really thinks too highly of herself.

" First of all, she's my maasi, not your servant, don't you dare call her anything else and secondly who do you think you are to meet them? " No matter what I won't let my so called parents taint the beautiful family I've met.
" You.. " Her hand raised as if to hit me, old habits really die hard, I grasped it halfway, " Don't. Don't do it Mrs. Sinha, in case you forgot you're standing in my husband's house attending my reception. What do you think he will do if you hit his wife. "

" Do you think he cares about you? He wanted that land, that is why he married you. " The smirk on her face was disgusting, she was talking like she knew everything but that's where she's wrong. Vartika Sinha is the most superficial person you'll ever meet.

" I don't think you're stupid, do you seriously think that if Abhimanyu Singhania wanted a land, he won't be able to get it. And even if he did marry me for that, I'm still his wife and I don't think he'll like someone raising her hand on his wife. " She had enough brain to know that I'm right but if she doesn't argue how could she be the person I knew her for, " You've grown up, no? I really should've thrown you out the day you came home. "

Nothing new, I've almost memorized the taunts she says, and the most frequent one is, throwing me out on my first day.
" Well you missed the chance. Now back off, I need to get back to my family. "

I pushed her out the way without waiting for her reply, from what I knew of her, she'll definitely go to her husband to complain and I know he doesn't have the mood to handle her tantrums nowadays. The businesses under his name are all facing some problem these. If he resolves one, a different one crops up. I don't know how he managed to come here in the midst of his busy schedule. But it's not like he'll miss a chance to mingle with the Singhanias.

I had gone to the bathroom when she cornered me and now that I came out my husband's eyes found me in a second and he didn't delay any longer before walking towards me.
" Are you okay? " He asked while holding my hand.
" Why wouldn't I be? "

" I saw Mrs. Sinha going that way. "
" Oh? She doesn't matter. " I hadn't tried to hide my relationship with the Sinhas, and I knew he had guessed it but he never asked. He was waiting for me to tell him and I realized the day wasn't far before I do that. I was just preparing myself to bear the consequences of baring my soul to him. I had to be prepared in case he decided I'm not worth it, at least I'll have something with me to move forward.

The reception ended two hours later and I was getting tired of the dress and the heels I wasn't used to them. I preferred my shoes more.
" Take care okay? " Maasi said to me.
" Hmm. "
" Di can I come again to play with rudra bhai? " Rajveer asked and I was surprised, he never liked to interact with rich people, it might've been the prejudices he held since childhood, he had seen enough obnoxious people at the tender age of five and after he learned of my family, he got more determined in his hate. So seeing him liking rudraksh and even calling him rudra felt good.

" Of course you can. It's your house as much it's theirs. " Aunty answered on my behalf, it wasn't what I would've said but I was grateful.
" What about me veer? " Samiara chorused from the side and my brother gave her a look saying, how the hell can she be so stupid. I didn't understand it until I heard his next words. " Sammy di, you live in a hostel. Remember? " My twenty year old brother had no qualms about criticizing them.